Viscountess ASTORasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in determining the amount of financial aid to be given to the beet-sugar industry in Britain in any year additional to that originally fixed by Parliament, the Government have access to the accounts of all the beet-sugar factories and companies; and whether they take cognisance of the issued capital, loans and debentures outstanding, capital expenditure, depreciation written off, and the accumulated surplus of these companies?
§ Sir J. GILMOURCompanies which manufacture sugar and molasses from home-grown beet are under a statutory obligation to furnish their balance sheets and profit and loss accounts to the Minister. The Government, therefore, are in a position to take cognisance of the items referred to by the Noble Lady.